Have you ever been lost, or have lost a member of your crew?

[MOMMA]

It's pretty easy to become disoriented in the backcountry. Those who say, just follow your tracks back underestimate the amount of track there can be especially when you're playing in the trees. Weather can also be a contributing factor. I remember a blizzard blowing in so fast I couldn't even see my ski tips let alone any tracks. It was a benign cut block, but I was so turned around, I ended up far from my group and had to navigate a plan b back to the crew down a different logging road. Lucky we had radio contact. This was about 15 years ago. I was lucky.

I learned a healthy new respect for watching the weather throughout the day, and checking the forecast before heading out along with keeping an eye on our group while using the buddy system.

Do you have any stories to share?

 

[lilduke]

I got lost one time, in the dark, in a blizzard and in the trees. out of gas...

never had my GPS with me, could have saved the day.

but managed to get some friends on the radio that were back in town eating. they came up and found us after super and we were off the hill around midnight.

 

[canuck5]

About 17 years ago and my first time in the hills followed a bunch of well seasoned riders into Millage not a big area but got far enough in on a beautiful blue sky day as you know clouds rolled in and they had no idea where they were. Us young guys were the ones who back tracked out group, since then I have trusted myself any only one other very strong navigator also carry gps with tracks on all the time.

 

[ferniesnow]

I like the opening sentence.................It's pretty easy to become disoriented in the backcountry


One isn't lost so to speak. Generally, you know where you are in relation to the big picture but trying to find a trail back can be a pita (whiteout, too many tracks, wrong turn here or there, etc..). canuck5 hit the nail on the head, being a strong navigator is an important characteristic. Momma, the idea of watching the weather is also so important in certain areas (other areas it may not be a deterrent) where it is open and tends to be wind blown. Zero visibility is not good. Back tracking on a GPS is great but one has to do it regularly so that when the chips are down the hibie-jibies don't get you into panic mode.

I have used a lot of coloured ribbon over the years back tracking so that I don't go into the same place twice on the way out (no GPS that day). Big meadows with lots of tracks are confusing and trying to find a way back in poor weather can be a challenge. Navigation is key.

 

[Bnorth]

This one is a bit embarrassing. We were in Frisby a few years ago early season before the closures went on and were down playing when we saw some weather coming in so started back to get over the ridge before vis was gone. Well we were too late and lost vis on the ridge but managed to find one of the fog poles. Thinking it was the 3rd one we were trying to find the next pole to the south but with maybe 12' of vis couldn't find it and were at risk of losing the one we were at. The snow was fully windswept no tracks or indication at all and we weren't carrying a GPS. We knew there was at least one group in there behind us so we hunkered down behind our sleds as best as possible to cut the wind and waited for them to come out. They came out shortly and we tagged on to the end of their group only to find out we were at the 1st pole not the 3rd so there wasn't another pole to find in the direction we were headed and in fact we had been less than 150' from the trail down. So yeah I always carry a GPS now.

 

[MOMMA]

I am loving this conversation. You guys bring up such good points and suggestions. Thank you so much!

 

[RGM]

Used my GPS ( my phone with Gaia) many times to come out of the icecap with clients. Lots have spent the night or two up there because they didn't have radios or GPS or know how to use them.

 

[deaner]

Pretty much every time we would ride together trish. I’d figure what the heck, Kevan knows where we’re going so I can just have fun. Then I lose track of time and realize I haven’t seen any other humans in half an hour. Have tried to follow my own tracks back but have you ever tried to do that? Frickin things go everywhere.

 

[MOMMA]

Pretty much every time we would ride together trish. I’d figure what the heck, Kevan knows where we’re going so I can just have fun. Then I lose track of time and realize I haven’t seen any other humans in half an hour. Have tried to follow my own tracks back but have you ever tried to do that? Frickin things go everywhere.

You're like a bloody monkey in the trees! hahahaha.. Remember trying to navigate our way out of JB... Ok which was our up track???? Efffing Dean!!!!!!!!

On the plus side, I'm much more comfortable riding ridiculous drainages, creek beds and thick trees because of this haha.

 

[LUCKY 7]

Not sledding but I was lost out hunting. Was intending to do a 2 hour walk with the father-inlaw and have my wife pick us up at the other end. November long weekend and spent a night by myself under a tree after getting seperated from my father-inlaw. No water, 3 little chocolate bars, no gear except my gun and maybe a dozen bullets. Lots of strange noises in the dark. Scarey night for sure but in the morning I was able to find my bearings and ended up doing a 4 hour walk back to the camp. The RCMP was called at first light and was with my wife looking for me along with other hunters and the SAR were ready to go at noon ( 24 hours past my last contact). Lots of mistakes made that day and lots learned from that day. Its amazing how cold November nights can be.

 

[deaner]

You're like a bloody monkey in the trees! hahahaha.. Remember trying to navigate our way out of JB... Ok which was our up track???? Efffing Dean!!!!!!!!

On the plus side, I'm much more comfortable riding ridiculous drainages, creek beds and thick trees because of this haha.

Kevans confidence would always get us back on the right track though. Even if he was doing it sarcastically.

 

[MOMMA]

Kevans confidence would always get us back on the right track though. Even if he was doing it sarcastically.

Damn him and his sarcastic gifts! hahahahahaha

 

[RXN]

Years ago a bunch of us went to McBride.
Our group consisted of 3 of us who usually ride there together. My Dad, who taught me to ride there. A friend from work who's never riden before. And a French man we meet off snow and mud (1st time riding with him)

Weather was not the best. We picked Belle thinking we could play in the meadows. This was early December. Not a lot of base. We weren't able to connect the meadows as the snow covered logs and dead fall was presenting a problem for us.
Decided to go to the cabin for lunch.
There was a lot of guys crammed in that cabin. And hardly any visibility up there.
The Frenchy didnt want to wait at the cabin. Said he was going to ride. Matt said hang on I'll go with you.
A few minutes later Matt came back in. And said by the time his gear was on and he got to his sled he couldnt see the French guy anywhere, didnt know where he went and couldnt hear his sled.
We all had radios so we tried calling.
Nothing.
Finally he called us. Now his English wasnt very good. And non of us knew French. He said he was stuck ontop of the mountain next to a tree.????

So me and Matt ran up little Belle thinking maybe in one of the small trees up there. Up there we struggled to see eachother. We radioed frenchy and asked him to start his sled. Couldn't hear him.
My dad asked him over the radio "when you left the cabin, which way did you go?" He said to the right.
Matt and I figured maybe he went down to the creek and tried climbing up the side of little Belle. So we searched there.
As we were searching for our guy.
Another lost rider made it to the cabin. From what my Dad told me it was his first mountain trip and he lost the guys he was riding with. So came back to the cabin.
He eventually rode back to town with another group. As we couldnt find his buddies.
There were also two other groups looking for lost riders. We were all using BCA A so we could all look for eachother. As the weather lifted one of the other groups ran up Big Belle where they found our lost guy. (3 hours before he was found).
We found another group with one rider that was dropping into the burn. A large group of us had to pull his machine up as like I said there was no base.
When we finally went down. Search and rescue were unloading in the parking lot. The guy that left earlier with the other group called his buddies wifes who then all called S&R.
I think they were all found by 10pm or so.

Goes to show if you do ride in poor weather. Stick together. If the guy that was behind you isn't behind you anymore. Stop. See why.
And listen. Don't bugger off on your own.

 

[Bikeswithtrax]

Wife, daughters while still teenagers, daughters friend also a teenage girl, and myself, got lost when we missed a turn snowmobiling and when almost out of gas, we stopped. I got a fire going and we spent the night sleeping out there. Come daylight i transferred the gas out of the other snowmobiles into mine, and I rode out to a spot my cell would work on a mountain top. From there now with the storm over, and daylight I spotted a logging road not too far from where i had left the group. I called a couple friends and asked them to bring out warm drinks and spare gas, and told them which road i was pretty sure it was, and to drive down the road till they saw me as i knew that i would beat them there and just park on the road. About 2 hours later they showed up, had two sleds, a skimmer, 10 jerry cans full of gas, drinks and food. I led them back to the group who were all in good spirits despite their night in the woods. They also brought a good map and a gps that they had previously used on this same trip with it saved in it.
They rode back with us as far as the turn of we missed, and once there they turned and rode back to their truck. We safely got to where our trucks and trailers were, and I owed my friends a huge debt...most of all i was embarrassed for missing the turn.

 

[freeflorider]

Lost once yes, but it was in a VICTORIA secret store and no one was hurt but the MasterCard. Now I bring a safety buddy.

 

[1200]

Most rides i try to get someone else in our group to lead the way out which is in the dark just to make people more aware were they are u be surprised how many have trouble. So now we switch leaders for the day trying to get people to know were they are . Never really been lost but had trouble with climbing out of bowls with weather , darkness ,deep snow . My garmin rino has saved my ass lots. I dont think i would ride without it .

 

[Dooitorbust]

We misplaced a guy in our group one time. It was only for an hour, but he was stuck, and we couldn’t find him. Feels like a long time when the day is ending. We rode around him numerous times and eventually found him. He didn’t really think a radio was necessary at the time, but now he has a nice Baofeng..

 

[tex78]

We misplaced a guy in our group one time. It was only for an hour, but he was stuck, and we couldn’t find him. Feels like a long time when the day is ending. We rode around him numerous times and eventually found him. He didn’t really think a radio was necessary at the time, but now he has a nice Baofeng..

We lost a guy for a few hours year or two ago, we call him lost Luke

He had a radio, but some how switch channels and didn't know it, we grid searched for hours from the last spot we seen him

He was just about out when someone found him, and he was a long ways, back tracked from last seen spot

Not sure if he sleds now, know it rattled him good, showed him a rhino radio and how ya need to know channel of the day, don't just let someone set it for ya

 

[banditpowdercoat]

We lost a guy for a few hours year or two ago, we call him lost Luke

He had a radio, but some how switch channels and didn't know it, we grid searched for hours from the last spot we seen him

He was just about out when someone found him, and he was a long ways, back tracked from last seen spot

Not sure if he sleds now, know it rattled him good, showed him a rhino radio and how ya need to know channel of the day, don't just let someone set it for ya

LOL, Ya that and we lost all the time.

 

[kimrick]

When we first starting going to Revy. The rule was, Dad will check it out, and my 2 daughters would stay put.
Slowly ventured from cabin, hit Waldy world. then antenna hill (newby lake). BOY WAS THAT EXTREME.........LOL.....A whole 5 KM from cabin. LOL!
We dropped into the lower lakes one year. (3 YEARS) and played for at least 4 hours.
Learning how to carve, fall off, etc. We were newbies.
Everything looked good till we did the short climb back out.
As dads do. Tell the girls evething is fine. (they are 9 and 13 at the time).
Do a few laps and everthing looks very confusing..
Not sure were to go to. so shut off machine and just listen. Usuasslly it will clear.
But being a dumbass. Rode till dusk.
Decided to push on slowly as it was snowing like hell and foggy.
Here we were about 300 from trail down..
Daughters thought I was a hero but I was scared as HELL and ready to hunker down,
To this day. I look behind me at all times and do not venture beyond mine or my groups means.
I watch the weaher and will shut it down
There is always tommorrom.
I thank Mark Shade, Jason Duperou, Eddie, Hommer, and all the other guys that have taught me how to respect the mountaintains,

If you are riding and feel uncomfortable. Do not be afraid to say something and go to the cabin.
You will have total respect . Ask for directions and even ask for someone to take you there.
SAFETY FIRST!!!!!
Everyone arrives home!!!
I now that moumain very well. Even in extreme conditions I can assist people getting to cabin..
But before. I had the #%$% scared out of me
Just being honest as MOMMA wants truthful stories.

OH yay. Met TEX at ZalaS once. Love you brother.